Nairobi Latema Road blast
| 2019 Nairobi Latema road blast Wambui Anastacia | |
|---|---|
| Location | Latema road, Nairobi, Kenya |
| Coordinates | -1.283255, 36.824728 |
| Date | 26 January 2019 |
| Weapon | Improvised explosive device |
| Injured | 2 |
| Perpetrators | Al-Shabaab (suspected) |
The Latema road blast was a minor terror incident that occurred on 26 January 2019 on Latema road in Nairobi's Central Business District.[1] The attack occurred after luggage containing an improvised explosive device detonated while it was being carried on a mkokoteni cart, injuring two people.[2]
Background
Kenya has suffered several terrorist attacks, the most recent being the Nairobi Dusitd2 complex attack. The main perpetrators behind the attacks have been Al-Shabaab militants who have been trying to overthrow the Kenyan backed Somali government.
Incident
On the evening of 26 January 2019, at around 7 p.m., a middle aged cart pusher was approached by a man of Somali descent to ferry goods, including a box, from the Baba Dogo bus stop to the Kenya Cinema bus stop.[2] As they were nearing the junction of Latema road and Tom Mboya road, the client pretended to have forgotten his ID in a nearby MPESA agent and rushed off, leaving the cart puller waiting.[1] Shortly after he left, the goods being ferried exploded, injuring the cart pusher and a vendor.[1]
Aftermath
After the incident, anti-bomb squad and anti terror police units sealed off the area after evacuating the injured and searched for the owner of the goods.[3][4] On the morning of 27 January 2019, the National police service advised members of the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious cases to the police.[5]
See also
- 2011–14 terrorist attacks in Kenya
- 2018 Inter-Continental Hotel Kabul attack
- Garissa University College attack (2015)
- 2019 Nairobi Dusitd2 complex attack
- Terrorism in Kenya
References
- ^ a b c Reporter, Standard. "Latema explosion victim recounts what happened". The Standard. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
- ^ a b "Two injured as suspected IED explodes in Nairobi's CBD". The Star, Kenya. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
- ^ "Two injured in Nairobi IED explosion". Citizentv.co.ke. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
- ^ "CCTV analysis on after city explosion". Daily Nation. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
- ^ Onyango, Jacob (2019-01-27). "Hotel operators advised to stay extra alert following explosion at Odeon Cinema". Tuko.co.ke - Kenya news. Retrieved 2019-01-27.